Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to
parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane,
social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of
your shell.

But right before what should have
been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No
Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen
Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless
they could lead back to her best friend.

Apple Picking at Night? Okay,
easy enough.

Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list
would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of
her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who
knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um…

My Review

Emily starts out her summer before her senior year with a
missing friend and a very strange to-do list. On the list are tasks like apple
picking at night, kissing a stranger, and dancing until dawn. The only problem,
her best friend Sloane—the writer of the list—isn’t there to help her out.
After a series of strange interactions and a lot of verbal fumbling, Emily
makes some new friends and goes on an emotional journey that could help her
slip out of her very small shell.

Finding yourself isn’t a piece of cake, and Morgan Matson
doesn’t let Emily take the easy way out. Emily chooses to do things she, and I,
would never normally do. Honestly, Emily is completely relatable—besides the
cross country running thing. I don’t do that, kudos to those who do. She’s amazingly
awkward, and her thoughts noticeably show that specific characteristic. She
makes me feel 100% socially competent. Although Emily is a very fleshed out
character, her companions are not. Frank is the good guy, Collins is the good
guy’s wild best friend, and Dawn is the new BFF. That’s all.

And while Matson’s story is completely believable, there are
some minor issues. Emily is an observer, but it’s hard to observe your own
changes. Especially when they’re buried somewhere on the inside with all of those
feelings and other emotional stuff, yet Emily is able to recognize her own
character growth rather effortlessly. Also, it’s a fast-paced story, which
somewhere along the way loses pieces of its ending. I’m left with questions,
and that is not okay. Okay?

So, your to-do list in regards to this book: 1) Expect some
cutesy, fluffy, fun stuff. 2) Be prepared for the awkwardness. You know you can
relate. 3) Enjoy the playlists of songs provided in the book—Music is cool, and
comedy clips are not. You’ll get my reference when you read it. 4) Sigh at all
the lovey-dovey moments, not because they’re cheesy, but because they’re cute.
5) Understand that the things I wrote earlier are possible for you to feel
while reading. And finally, 6) Smile throughout.

*Note: I
received a copy of this book to review from Book Review Board of Missouri. This
in no way altered my opinion/review.